Saint Joseph’s College ace Eric Meyerchick signs with D’backs
By John Mutka Post-Tribune senior correspondent June 18, 2012 11:24PM
Updated: July 20, 2012 6:25AM
Saint Joseph’s College pitcher Eric Meyerchick (Lansing, IL, Thorton Fractional South) signed a free-agent contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday evening, shortly after being added to the roster of the Windy City Thunderbolts.
“This has been overwhelming,” said Meyerchick. “I signed up with Windy City on the 13th, now I head to Arizona for a physical and to be a part of the Diamondbacks farm system.”
Meyerchick pitched 26 innings to pick up three victories in his last three starts for St. Joseph’s College.
The hard-throwing right-hander posted a 5-3 record with a 2.53 ERA in 81.2 innings pitched. He also earned First Team All-GLVC honor.
Meyerchick ends his collegiate career having made the most starts in SJC history. His 21 victories and 198 career strikeouts sit as the third highest total in school history.
In his career, SJC Coach Rick O’Dette has sent more than 20 players who have moved on to professional baseball.
St. Xavier’s Tony O’Shea (Valparaiso) has been named to the all-Chicagoland Athletic Conference first team. He batted .368, scored 53 runs and drove in 30 runs. The junior catcher led the Cougars in putouts. They posted a 35-23 record.
In spite of missing 27 games with an injury Valparaiso University shortstop Spencer Mahoney has been named to the Louisville Slugger All-American freshman team. He led the Horizon League champions with a .348 average. His .468 on-base percentage was also a team-best.
Valparaiso’s Andrew Bain was named to the all-Gary Regional team. The junior designated hitter led the Crusaders with five hits in nine at-bats in games with Purdue and Kentucky at the U.S. Steel Yard.
Basketball
Michigan’s Hoosier back court of Zack Novak (Chesterton) and Stu Douglass (Carmel) combined for 10 awards given to basketball players at the Wolverines post-season banquet. Novak, who accounted for six honors, and Douglass shared the Thad Garner leadership award, named in honor of the former Bishop Noll standout.
Novak was a three-time captain of the Wolverines, who averaged 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in his senior year with a career-best .476 field goal percentage. He also is tied for third in games played with 134 for his career.
Garner was a 1978 Indiana All-Star who starred for the Wolverines from 1978-82. He was a two-time captain who scored 1,039 points and grabbed 602 rebounds, one of only seven Wolverines to surpass 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
